Tim,

I flew over your place on Sat and couldn't find it so you are safe for now.
Of course I was at 6500 and flying in a straight line, but I looked.

Dave

m7flyer wrote:Tim,

I flew over your place on Sat and couldn't find it so you are safe for now.
Of course I was at 6500 and flying in a straight line, but I looked.

Dave

I can see it. 10 O-Clock low.

Tim

Bill, North Dakota also has laws to protect the landowner in the case of a recreational accident. If you aren't charging for the thrill of landing at your private strip, or plowing up the runway to try to damage, you are not liable.

I like to think that you would have a hard time rounding up a jury in ND that would award someone because of their stupidity.

lancef53 wrote:
I like to think that you would have a hard time rounding up a jury in ND that would award someone because of their stupidity.

That is going to change. Both pres candidates want to reward stupid people for buying more house than they can afford.

Tim

Tim,

Next time I'll have to check with you where I "don't" have permission to land but may find a cold beverage.

DAve

The strip that I fly from is in Michigan, the owner told me the State of Michigan covers him because it is a public airport. I know Ohio doesn't have the same law.
Dave

I like to think that you would have a hard time rounding up a jury in ND that would award someone because of their stupidity.

Lance,

I would like to think your right, but I have experience with a trespassing hunter that proves otherwise. He asked to get in, was told no, then he went in anyway. When people go to court they lie, forget, don't exactly remember, etc... and that is reasonable doubt to a jury.

I do believe most people here are honest and I try not to live looking over my shoulder watching my back on my own land. But If I have to hire a lawyer, my first question for him/her is how much do you charge? You want to have a higher priced lawyer than your competition. Its all about winning, not right or wrong.

Bill

Flat Country Pilot wrote:

I like to think that you would have a hard time rounding up a jury in ND that would award someone because of their stupidity.

Lance,

I would like to think your right, but I have experience with a trespassing hunter that proves otherwise. He asked to get in, was told no, then he went in anyway. When people go to court they lie, forget, don't exactly remember, etc... and that is reasonable doubt to a jury.

I do believe most people here are honest and I try not to live looking over my shoulder watching my back on my own land. But If I have to hire a lawyer, my first question for him/her is how much do you charge? You want to have a higher priced lawyer than your competition. Its all about winning, not right or wrong.

Bill

Bill, out of curiosity, are you saying that you took this armed trepasser to court and he won? That the jury took his word over yours, the land owner?

Skystrider,

Yes, that's what happned.

Our States Attorney took the case so I didn't have to hire a Lawyer. I was summoned as a witness. The defendant had a very good lawyer and a poor jury.

I now approach and confront trespassers armed and ready with my digital camera. Not a great match against their loaded guns and dogs, but we put the ding on the last two trespassers. Hard for them to lie against pictures, we didn't even go to court.

Bill

qmdv wrote:If you have a strip at the ranch and a few folks drop by and one roles his plane into a ball, how can you keep him from owning the ranch.

Everbody says "I would never do that" but you never know tell it happens.

Tim

Tim & Flight:
#1 DO NOT put up Windsock to identify your strip >because that identify
it as a airfield. Some student on cross country may be tempted (or PP pilot)
may be tempted to "try his luck" .Instead have a large but very visibale American Flag .

#2 I would not list (even with county or whatever) land as a "airstrip or airport >It's a road on my property to access my pasture.

#3 I would restrict it's (airstrip) to times when "common" airport was not available or you wanted to depart/arrive at home as a matter of "convenience" I might be temped to NOT allow other pilot/aircraft to use
YOUR strip unless of emergency.

Flat Country Pilot wrote: armed and ready with my digital camera.

This really is one of the most powerful weapons in our modern litigious society.

Flat Country Pilot wrote:Skystrider,

Yes, that's what happned.

Our States Attorney took the case so I didn't have to hire a Lawyer. I was summoned as a witness. The defendant had a very good lawyer and a poor jury.

I now approach and confront trespassers armed and ready with my digital camera. Not a great match against their loaded guns and dogs, but we put the ding on the last two trespassers. Hard for them to lie against pictures, we didn't even go to court.

Bill

Sure don't envy you having to do that Bill. But I am real glad it is working for you.

Flat Country Pilot wrote:

I like to think that you would have a hard time rounding up a jury in ND that would award someone because of their stupidity.

Lance,

I would like to think your right, but I have experience with a trespassing hunter that proves otherwise. He asked to get in, was told no, then he went in anyway. When people go to court they lie, forget, don't exactly remember, etc... and that is reasonable doubt to a jury.

I do believe most people here are honest and I try not to live looking over my shoulder watching my back on my own land. But If I have to hire a lawyer, my first question for him/her is how much do you charge? You want to have a higher priced lawyer than your competition. Its all about winning, not right or wrong.

Bill

Very simple fix. In Montana you need written permission to be legal. Lots of times we don't get it but if you don't have that piece of paper you don't have a leg to stand on.

Bonanza Man wrote

Very simple fix.

Should be, but in ND our Game and Fish Dept has taken sides with the hunter and not the land owner. Our Legislators are mostly non land owning city people and we have not been able to get them on our side.

I'm not out to chase down trespassers and take their hunting away. I just want them to knock on my door or call on the phone and ask permission. We let a lot of people in, we tell a lot no. Don't really need a reason either way. But No One hunts near or in my yard, those are the guys I chase down in a hurry.

If some one comes in unannounced and lands an airplane, I'll try to greet them with coffee or a cold pop.

Go tramping through my yard, or like two years ago my wife's garden, shooting pheasants or deer, I'll meet them with my camera. Kinda funny, but stick a camera in someones face and start taking pictures, they really come unglued quick.

Bill

Maybe someone can help me..flying back from Oshkosh in '03 between Oshkosh WI and Fort Dodge Iowa, (I think it was in WI) I saw a real nice paved strip and printed down the strip it said "PRIVATE" or PRIVATE STRIP" printed in BIG white letters. There was no doubt about not landing there.
Can anyone tell me where that strip might be?
HC

Could it have been the John Deere airport on the north edge of Dubuque IA?

We went through all this about 12 years ago when we built the strip here. There are very specific FAA regs about what constitutes an airport, who and what are allowed to use it, how it's marked, and the fact that it will be on the sectional. If you look at your sectionals, it will show an R on most of the private strips, and if you go to the info on the sectional, it will state that it's a restricted airport and you're operating there at your own risk. There are also state regs that pertain to private airports...but when I contacted our Aeronautics guys, it took a couple different calls to find anyone that had a clue as to what I needed. One very important thing to do for a private airport is to obtain an "avigation easement". This will restrict any building in the approach and departure "cone". From what I found, this is lacking in pretty much all the small private strips that get shut down by developement around them.
John

...hardtailjohn's point is why my strip is listed "private" with a R on the sectionals. I was told by someone at state level that when listed with a R means you need prior permission. Just a strip un marked, means you could be welcome, and isn't as clear as a R.

I pray I neaver have to "test" the theory. jg

180Marty wrote:Could it have been the John Deere airport on the north edge of Dubuque IA?

I will check the sectional.
Thanks
HC

Interesting thread. I have some family property in NorCal that is in the "high country". 380 acres of meadow that I have always wanted my Maule to land on, but I need to do a little light grading first to make it perfect. I think I can get just over 1,200 feet of useable runway if I grade it correctly. No worries of neighbors even knowing that there is an airplane landing there because it is private property surrounded by Forest Service because it was deeded before the Lands and Recreations act of 1900 (thank you, dear ole Teddy).

From all this conversation, however, it sounds like if I actually make that a reality, I'll need to camoflauge it like a cow and make it moo or something.

CHEERS!